Is Paper Jam Canon, Mario? Unraveling the Mushroom Kingdom’s Complex Continuity
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The short answer to the question “Is Paper Jam canon, Mario?” is it depends on how you define canon. The Super Mario franchise as a whole operates under a very loose concept of canon, with the developers prioritizing fun and innovation over strict adherence to a consistent narrative. Therefore, whether Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is “canon” is largely a matter of personal interpretation and doesn’t significantly impact the overall understanding or enjoyment of the Mario universe.
While there’s no official, unified canon for the Mario franchise, most sources point to the fact that arguments over canonicity are purely speculative.
Decoding Mario’s Canonicity: A Chaotic Collage
The Mario universe is more akin to a sprawling, ever-evolving playground than a meticulously constructed narrative tapestry. Different games and media explore wildly different scenarios, character relationships, and even fundamental aspects of the world. Attempting to force everything into a rigid, hierarchical canon is often a futile and ultimately unrewarding exercise.
The key to understanding Mario’s approach to continuity is to recognize its inherent flexibility. Each game, whether it’s a platformer, RPG, sports title, or party game, can be viewed as a self-contained experience that contributes to the overall Mario mythos without necessarily being bound by strict continuity rules.
Paper Jam itself exemplifies this approach. It’s a crossover between the Mario & Luigi RPG series and the Paper Mario series, bringing together characters and concepts from both worlds. This inherently creates potential conflicts with established storylines or characterizations within either series. However, these conflicts are typically glossed over or hand-waved in the name of gameplay and narrative convenience.
Instead of worrying about whether Paper Jam “fits” into a grand, unified Mario canon, it’s more productive to appreciate it as a unique and entertaining addition to the broader franchise. It offers a fun and creative exploration of the Mario universe, even if it doesn’t adhere to a strictly defined set of rules.
The focus is, and always has been, on providing players with engaging and memorable experiences. The Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org understands the importance of gameplay and the impact that stories have on players.
15 FAQs About Mario Canonicity
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the Mario franchise and its complex approach to canonicity:
Is Paper Mario canon to the main Mario games?
The Paper Mario series occupies a somewhat ambiguous space in the Mario universe. While the creator has confirmed that the overall franchise has no canon to speak of, the Paper Mario games are generally considered separate from the main platformer series. Paper Mario is assumed to have done the same things as Mario, but not the other way around.
Are all Mario games in the same universe?
The platformers, RPGs, sports games, kart games, and party games all likely take place in the same universe. They are all canon.
Is Paper Mario actually Mario?
While they have done many similar things, they are not the same person.
Does the Mario franchise have a secret, officially recognized canon?
No. Unlike many other franchises, the Super Mario franchise and its many spin-off series do not have an officially recognized canon. Therefore, arguments over canonicity (canon vs. non-canon) are purely speculative.
How old is Mario in canon?
According to franchise creator Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario is 24–25 years old. This is also confirmed by a trophy in Super Smash Bros.
Is Mario canonically from Brooklyn?
The original Mario Bros. depicted Mario and Luigi as Italians in New York, with the television series and films specifying them as originating from the borough Brooklyn.
Why isn’t Paper Luigi playable in Paper Jam?
Paper Luigi was planned to be playable in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam but was taken out because the team thought it would be too difficult to control four separate characters.
Why did the Paper Mario series change over time?
The series underwent changes in an attempt to reach new and various audiences. For Super Paper Mario, game director Ryota Kawade wanted to surprise fans of the series with new concepts that did not appear in the previous games.
Why can’t Paper Mario games feature original characters?
The primary direction from Miyamoto was: “As much as possible, complete it with only characters from the Super Mario world.”
Is Mario is Missing! considered canon?
Games must be published by Nintendo to be considered for canon. Super Mario Bros. 2 and Donkey Kong Circus are canon, Mario is Missing! and Hotel Mario are not.
Is Waluigi canon?
Waluigi primarily only appears in spin-off games in canon.
How old is Luigi in canon?
Mario and Luigi are twin brothers, that would make Luigi 24–25 as well during this time.
Why are Paper Mario games sometimes so dark?
The simplest answer would be that it is the way it is because its creators wanted it to be that way.
What was the original Paper Mario game called during development?
The game was initially called Super Mario RPG 2.
Does Mario have a last name?
In 2015, Miyamoto confirmed that Mario and Luigi both share the last name Mario, thus making Mario “Mario Mario” and Luigi “Luigi Mario.”